Featured Author: M.A. Comley

M.A. Comley, a good friend and fellow New York Times bestselling mystery author, is someone who knows the book business inside out. Her newest novel, Wrong Place, has received rave reviews, and its success has her sitting at the #10 spot in police procedurals on Amazon. 

When asked what advice she had for aspiring authors, here's what she had to say:

Thanks for hosting me, Cheryl, always a pleasure dropping by for a cuppa and a chat with a good friend. :) 

I’ve recently released WRONG PLACE the first book in my DI Sally Parker thriller series set in Norfolk in the UK. I’m hoping it will be as successful as my Justice series, fingers crossed anyway. The second book, NO HIDING PLACE is now with the editor and available for pre-order.

Enough about my books and back to the question in hand. What advice would I give to anyone starting out; well, the most important advice would be to ensure you get your work edited by a professional before putting it out there, you’ll seriously regret it if you don’t. I also think people should just knuckle down and write the next book instead of marketing the hell out of ONLY one book. If people enjoy your work they will be impatient to read more, bear that in mind during this process.

I found this out the hard way, but have made up for it since, in the past three years I have written over 20 novels and accrued a ‘few loyal fans’ along the way. We’re nothing without our fans, another fact to remember if you’re self-publishing or indeed a trad published author.

Thanks for inviting me, Cheryl. Good luck to everyone in their quest to become a successful author.

Here are the links:

Wrong Place

Amazon hyperurl.co/v0bu2g

Kobo http://ow.ly/OrKyB

Xin Xii http://ow.ly/OrLFa

Barnes and Noble http://ow.ly/OEVwC                      

iTunes http://ow.ly/MrcmN 

Google http://ow.ly/OtSDv

Featured Author: Karen Kingsbury

Superb author Karen Kingsbury is a New York Times best selling author and she just announced that two of her books are being made into Hallmark movies. Her newest novel, Chasing Sunsets, released last month to rave reviews. 

In 2011 I asked Karen what advice she would give to new authors, and her mother sent this along: 

"Thanks for asking about writing tips. Karen has put together a list of "Writing Tips" on her web site. We have heard from many writers that these were helpful to them. Click HERE for her tips.

Additionally, if you search the Internet under "Christian writing tips" loads of information comes up from many well known authors. There are also online writer's associations such as the Christian Writer's Guild - which will lead you through a course that helps you write your book. If you're interested in this, that's something Karen recommends. It is run by a good friend of hers - author Jerry Jenkins.

Here's another author's blog with writing tips: http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/ by Randy Ingemanson

Here's a website that has very good information on how to submit a manuscript to an agent: http://www.wordserveliterary.com/
Then click on "Submission Guidelines".

Karen didn't struggle to get published like most authors do. A New York agent discovered her because she was a news reporter for the LA Times and was covering a trial. The agent asked her if she could make the story into a book and she did and received a four book contract from a big publisher. The rest is history as they say!

When you get time please stop by Karen's Facebook page. Karen posts there almost every day! There's a link on her website.

"Unlocked" which is Karen's new "stand alone" book released on October 12th. You can also watch her new talk show on her website. Karen interviews those who have inspired this story. She also introduces "Cody Coleman" who is a character in her "Above The Line Series"!

Thanks so much again for your letter, and for taking time to share your thoughts."

Blessings,

Anne Kingsbury
Karen's Mother and Assistant

www.karenkingsbury.com 

Featured Author: Marta Perry

Marta Perry realized she wanted to be a writer at the age of eight. With over fifty romantic fiction books under her belt, her talent shines through in every book she publishes. Her books have won numerous awards, including an Rita Award in 2012. Marta is now penning a new series, the first titled The Forgiven: Keepers of the Promise. 

I wrote to Marta in 2011 and asked what advice she would give to upcoming authors. Here's what she had to say: 

"When I was getting started in writing, the internet didn't exist, I hadn't heard about organizations like RWA, and I'd never even met another oddball person like me! Aspiring writers today have so many wonderful opportunities to network with other writers and to learn from the best, and I would urge them to take full advantage of that. Seek out groups, either in your community or online, who have the same aspirations you do, and who have the same level of commitment. (Beware the group which turns into a coffeeklatch, talking about writing instead of actually doing it!) I think it's also helpful if the other folks in the group are at your skill and experience level or a little farther along. Remember, you need honest critiquing and encouragement, not criticism.

Above all, aspiring writers must read, read, read, especially in the genre in which you want to write. Know what the classics are; know what the bestsellers are; know what's selling now, not what sold last year.

And write, write, write. It's my personal belief that all of us have a certain amount of dreck that we have to write before we can get down to the real stuff--the things that only we can write, the stories only we can tell."

Wishing each of you all the best in your own writing journeys,

Marta Perry
www.martaperry.com
www.booksbymartaperry.blogspot.com

Featured Author: John Lescroart

John Lescroart isn't just a fantastic writer, he's also a fantastic guy. Very smart. Very nice. His newest novel, The Keeper, was released in May 2014, and is book 15 in his bestselling Dismas Hardy series. It made the New York Times bestsellers list soon after its release. To date, Lescroart has written twenty-five novels.

If you haven't ever visited his blog, I recommend you stop by. His site includes an adorable picture of him taking the ice bucket challenge as well as including recipes. Yes, that's right. I said recipes. How cool is that?! 

When I wrote him back in 2011 and asked if he'd agree to give me a short snippet of advice to post for other writers, he replied immediately, and I have to say, his advice is similar to what I'd give. It's very accurate.  

"I probably went through very much the usual travails in trying to get my writing career off the ground. Lots of rejection notices, not much support from anybody aside from my wife. About the only concrete advice I can give is that you've got to keep believing in yourself (all the while understanding that your rejections are not
personal and that you probably need to improve in the craft), and you can't let the bastards get you down. The best way to do that, in turn (and this is admittedly very difficult), is to simply ignore the pain and keep plugging on with your writing. Enjoy the day-to-day exercise of putting down good words and find your joy in the actual work, and not in its success or lack thereof. So much of writing is a mind game, and anyone who wants to get into it had better have tough skin and a true passion for the process itself, because that is really what it's all about. Fame and fortune come to some who are talented and lucky, and is often withdrawn randomly and even unfairly. What remains are the words, and the love of the endeavor itself. If you are writing well, and strive to be happy in your life, good things will happen some or even most of the time. And if they don't, you've led a fulfilling and joyful life in the meanwhile, and that is life's true goal."